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What does an SMT chip processing factory mainly do?
As electronic product designs become smaller and more complex, more and more engineers are relying on surface mount technology. Since the 1980s, this technology has become the preferred PCB assembly technology in electronics manufacturing, and it continues to this day.
As electronic product designs become smaller and more complex, more and more engineers are relying on surface mount technology. Since the 1980s, this technology has become the preferred PCB assembly technology in electronics manufacturing, and it continues to this day.
Most of the components in the phone in your pocket were likely manufactured using surface mount technology (SMT). Many of the components in the car you drove today, or the Uber you took, were likely manufactured using SMT assembly.
So, what is SMT assembly, and why was this technology created?
What is SMT Assembly: The Basics
Surface mount technology is a method of producing electronic circuits by placing components directly onto the surface of a circuit board.
SMT assembly is an alternative to the through-hole method of PCB manufacturing, which peaked in the 1970s and 80s. As the electronics manufacturing industry continued to evolve, more efficient and better processes became necessary. SMT assembly was born out of this need.
SMT assembly of PCBs has wide-ranging uses. But it also has some limitations that your design team should consider.
Advantages of Surface Mount Technology
Like through-hole, SMT has both advantages and disadvantages. Let's start with some of the advantages of SMT assembly:
1. Affordability
One of the reasons SMT assembly was designed was to reduce manufacturing costs.
SMT requires significantly fewer holes to be drilled in the circuit board. This greatly reduces processing and handling costs.
SMT is more capable of high-volume production, leading to lower unit costs.
2. Efficiency
Another benefit of SMT assembly is its ability to use circuit board space more efficiently. With SMT assembly, engineers can now assemble complex electronics into smaller components.
Besides using space on the PCB more efficiently, SMT assembly is also faster, allowing manufacturers to increase overall output. From this perspective, what might take 1-2 hours using through-hole can be done in 10-15 minutes with SMT assembly.
3. Simplicity
In through-hole assembly, leads pass through holes to connect components. Since SMT components are soldered directly onto the PCB, the overall construction is much simpler.
4. Less Error-Prone
SMT assembly relies heavily on machines and less on humans. SMT is a less error-prone process because it is almost entirely automated.
Uses of Surface Mount Technology
SMT assembly was created to make better and more powerful electronics.
Look around your office or living room, and you'll see several common applications of surface mount technology. Basically, whenever you need products that are:
Smaller
Lighter
Faster
More Powerful
While through-hole still has uses in some applications or even certain locations on a board, SMT assembly has largely taken over.
Disadvantages of Surface Mount Technology
As with all manufacturing processes, SMT assembly has some drawbacks. A major drawback is that it requires more attention to detail than through-hole assembly. Even though the process is largely automated, design parameters must be met to produce a quality end product. This is largely the responsibility of the designer and the electronics contract manufacturer.
Problems can also arise when using SMT to place components onto a PCB, as the PCB will operate under:
Mechanical Stress
Environmental Stress
Thermal Stress
This problem can be mitigated by combining SMT with through-hole processes, thus getting the advantages of both. That's right—you can use both on the same circuit board!
Taking Your Designs into the Future
An obvious and easy way to address any potential problems in the SMT assembly process is to make sure you are working with a qualified and reliable partner. Contractors who specifically assist in the design phase will advise you on any potential problems with using SMT versus through-hole.
As you can see, SMT assembly is a vital part of almost all electronic designs today. If you are still using through-hole in your PCB designs, consider if SMT assembly is the upgrade you need to help your product evolve.
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